7 top tips for supporting employee wellbeing over the festive season

Help your employees to thrive

The festive season is meant to be ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ but for some it brings a lot of stress & worry. You may have employees who are struggling due to looming end of year targets and planning for the New Year.

The additional pressures of balancing work with increased family duties together with the demands of the festive period, financial strain and now the new Omicron variant, can make it a challenging time for all. 

So the support you give your people over this period is crucial to end the year in a positive way and to help your employees come back to work refreshed, motivated and ready for the New Year.

Here are our top 7 tips on how you can support your employees:

1. encourage your employees to ‘switch off’

Our ‘always on’ culture has become an issue, particularly since Covid-19 hit and as a result, the boundaries between home and work have become blurred. Encouraging employees to take a well-deserved break over the festive season has never been more important. It’s a time for employees to switch off, spend time with friends and family and catch up on rest and sleep ready for the New Year ahead.

Read our article: Are your employees getting enough sleep?

2. Support your employees' mental health

Also it’s important to be aware of those employees who might not be coping well over the festive period. The pressure to socialise with family, friends & colleagues can put some employees under a lot of stress. So putting the right help and support in place can help reduce employee absences.

Read our article: How to spot the signs an employee is struggling with their mental health and how to support them

Also don’t forget to promote the support available through charities and voluntary organisations:

• Mind - Mind offers information and advice to people with mental health problems.
• Samaritans – Providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide.
• Victim Support – for victims and witnesses of crime.

3. Be aware of ‘Divorce Day’

While for many the festive season is a happy time ending on a high on New Year’s Eve, for some they don’t see the year ending that way. In fact, the first working Monday after festive break has been named  “Divorce Day” due to family lawyers reporting higher than usual enquiries on this day.

Whilst relationship issues are personal, the impact of a divorce can be difficult for employees to manage. Prolonged periods of stress can lead to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety and can impact an individual’s ability to cope with day-to-day life, including work.

When personal problems appear in the workplace, productivity can fall. So being ready to support any mental health challenges could reduce disruption, employee absence and boost productivity.

You can do this by reminding employees of the support services available, such as the Employee Assistance Programme which offers mental health, financial planning & legal support. Also, if you have Mental Health First Aiders within your business remind everyone of the support they offer.

Read our practical guide to: supporting your employees mental health

4. Signpost employees to their employee benefits

Signpost employees to the support services you may already have in place through the benefits you offer. This could be a Virtual 24/7 GP or an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), which offers wellbeing support services, including counselling, to employees.

Often employees are unaware of what support is available so why not send out a reminder over the festive period.

5. Festive money worries

The average UK family will spend an average £821.25 on gifts, food and drink and decorations on gifts on the run up to the festive season. Financial health and stresses around money come to the forefront of many people’s minds this time of year which can cause anxiety, stress and depression. As an employer it’s important to signpost employees to the support available. Whether it be promoting the Employee Assistant Programme, which offers free counselling, or signposting details of charities, such as Citizens AdviceStep ChangeNational Debt Line, sharing sources of support is a proactive way of helping your employees.

And in 2022, why not consider running a financial wellbeing programme, to help your people with the tools and know-how to make informed financial decisions.

6. Encourage health activities

This time of year there is the urge to stay in the warmth and indulge in festive treats. But a lack of exercise and overdoing the mince pies can have a detrimental impact on employees’ physical wellbeing. Encourage your employees to go out for walks over the festive period and top up on that much-needed vitamin D. This will help them cope with any extra pressure over the festive period.

Why not set up a workplace health challenge for the New Year? Walking, running, cycling – whatever it may be, getting your teams involved in some friendly and healthy competition is a great way to encourage better health habits and boost employees’ wellbeing.  

7. A simple thank you can go a long way

When your employees are snowed under and pressure is high, it can be easy to forget the importance of saying thank you. A small but important gesture that lets your people know their efforts are noticed and appreciated.

Find out more

If you want to find out more about looking after your employees’ mental health & wellbeing or would like to review the employee benefits you offer to make sure they are still fit for purpose and relevant, please get in touch with a member of our specialist team